Oh, where can I find the prime minister’s shrine?
Outside the town, where cypress trees grow tall.
Beneath sunlit steps the green grass wears the verdure of spring;
Hid amongst leaves orioles sing in vain their beautiful songs.
Thrice his lord sought him for a plan to rule the land;
Two reigns he set his heart to build and defend.
But ‘ere was completed all his plans conceived
He died; and heroes since for him have e’er grieved.
On his return to the capital, the Second Ruler was told that the kingdom of Wu had deployed a large army at the boundary of Baqiu and its intention was unknown.
Startled, the Second Ruler said, “The prime minister has just died yet Wu is already breaking its oath and pressing our borders. What can we do?”
Jiang Wan replied, “I suggest we send Wang Ping and Zhang Ni to camp at Yongan as a precautionary measure, and at the same time dispatch an envoy to Wu to announce the death of the prime minister and find out their true intentions.”
“The envoy must be good at persuasion,” said the Second Ruler.
At this an official stepped from the ranks of courtiers and offered himself. He was Zong Yu, a native of Nanyang, holding two posts in the army. Much delighted, the Second Ruler appointed him envoy to Wu and told him to probe the real situation.
Zong Yu set out for the Wu capital, where he was taken before its ruler, Sun Quan. When he had made his obeisance the envoy noticed that all the attendants were dressed in mourning.
Assuming an angry countenance Sun Quan spoke sternly: “Our two states are now one house; why has your master increased the guard at Yongan?”
Zong Yu replied, “It seems to me circumstances have made it necessary for the west to increase the garrison at Yongan as much as for the east to have a force at Baqiu. Neither is worth questioning.”
“As an envoy you seem no inferior to Deng Zhi,” said the ruler of Wu, smiling. “When I heard that your Prime Minister Zhuge had gone to Heaven I wept daily and ordered all my officials to wear mourning. I feared that Wei might take advantage of the occasion to attack your country, so I increased the garrison at Baqiu, intending to help you in case of need.”
The envoy bowed and thanked him.
“I would not go back upon the pledge between us,” promised Sun Quan.
The envoy said, “My master has sent me to inform Your Majesty of the recent death of our prime minister.”
To reassure the envoy, Sun Quan picked up a silver barbed arrow. Snapping it in two, he vowed, “If I betray my oath may my posterity perish!”
Then he also appointed an envoy to Shu, taking with him incense, silk, and other things to be offered as sacrifices at the tomb of the deceased minister. The two envoys took leave of the ruler of Wu and journeyed to the Shu capital, where they went to see the Second Ruler.
Zong Yu said, “The Emperor of Wu is grieved over the death of our prime minister and put his court into mourning. The increased garrison at Baqiu is intended to safeguard us from Wei, lest they exploit the occasion of a public sorrow to attack. And he has broke an arrow in two to pledge never to betray the alliance.”
Delighted, the Second Ruler rewarded Zong Yu and treated the envoy of Wu generously. Presently the envoy left for home.
In accordance with Zhuge Liang’s advice, Jiang Wan was promoted to the office of prime minister besides being given other important posts, while Fei Yi was appointed associate in the prime minister’s office. Wu Yi was promoted to a higher rank, with the authority to govern in Hanzhong, and Jiang Wei was created a general with an honorable title and a marquis, commanding forces of various regions. He was sent to post his men in Hanzhong to join Wu Yi in guarding against attacks from Wei. The other officers retained their former positions.
But Yang Yi was forgotten. Discontented that he should be placed beneath Jiang Wan, who had not been in service as long, and thinking that his services had not been adequately rewarded, he spoke resentfully to Fei Yi: “At the time of the minister’s death, if I had gone over to Wei with the whole army, I would not have been so desolate as this.”
Fei Yi secretly reported this complaint to the Second Ruler, who was enraged and threw Yang Yi into prison. He intended to put him to death, but Jiang Wan reminded him of Yang Yi’s many contributions while serving under the late prime minister and hence should not be executed, in spite of his fault. He proposed reducing Yang Yi to a commoner. The Second Ruler approved. So Yang Yi was stripped of his official posts and exiled to a remote area, where he committed suicide through shame.
The thirteenth year of Jian Xing of Shu (or the third year of Blue Dragon of Wei, or the fourth year of Jia He of Wu) witnessed no military campaigns among the three kingdoms.
Now in the kingdom of Wei, Sima Yi was given command of all the military forces and the responsibility to see to the security of border regions. He thanked his emperor and departed for Luoyang.
In the capital, Cao Rui began large-scale construction work to build himself new palaces. In Luoyang, too, he decided to erect three grand halls, each of a lofty height, and a group of buildings including a hall, a tower, a pavilion, and a pool. Over the construction of all these works he placed Ma Jun, an official of education and learning, as superintendent.
Nothing was spared that would contribute to the beauty of these buildings. There were carved beams, painted rafters, golden bricks, and green tiles, all glittering in the sunlight. Thirty thousand highly-skilled artisans in the country were sought, and more than 300,000 workmen were mobilized to labor day and night on these architectural works for the Emperor’s glory and pleasure. The energy of the people was spent in this toil, and the cries of their complaint never ceased.
But the Emperor paid no attention. He issued another edict to build the Garden of Fragrant Forest, and all his officials were required to carry earth and transport trees into the garden.
Dong Xun, a minister, ventured to remonstrate with him. “Since the period of Jian An, wars have destroyed whole families and households. Those who survived are elderly and weak. Now if the palaces had been too small and enlargement desired, it would still be more fitting to choose a suitable time for the work so that it would not interfere with farming, let alone the construction of such unnecessary things. Your Majesty has honored your officials by allowing them to wear fine headdresses, dress in embroidered robes, and ride in decorated chariots, to distinguish them from the common people. Now these same officials are being made to carry timber and bear earth, to sweat and soil their feet. To destroy the glory of the state in order to raise a useless edifice is indescribable folly. Confucius said, ‘The Emperor treats his ministers with propriety, and the ministers reward him with loyalty.’ Without loyalty, without propriety, can a state endure?
“I recognize that these words of mine mean death, but I am of no value, a mere bullock’s hair, and my life is of no importance, as my passing would be no loss. I write with tears, bidding the world farewell. I have eight sons, who will be a burden to Your Majesty after my death. I cannot say with what trepidation I await my fate.”
Cao Rui was greatly angered after reading the text. “Has the man no fear of death?”
His close courtiers advised the Emperor to put the bold speaker to death, but Cao Rui said, “He has always been loyal. I will reduce him to a commoner this time. But whoever dares to utter such nonsense again will be slain!”
And indeed there was another bold speaker whose name was Zhang Mao, in the service of the Heir Apparent. He also ventured to remonstrate but was executed at the order of the Emperor.
Cao Rui summoned Ma Jun and said, “I want to build high terraces and lofty towers with the intention of holding intercourse with the gods, so that I may obtain from them the elixir of life.”
Ma Jun replied, “Of the four and twenty emperors of the line of Han, only Emperor Wu enjoyed the longest reign and life. That was because he drank the essence of the sun and the splendo
r of the moon. He had built in his palace at Chang’an the Terrace of Cypress Beams, upon which stands the bronze figure of a man holding a Dew Collecting Bowl to get the vapor from the Big Dipper during the third watch of the night. The liquid thus obtained is called ‘Celestial Elixir, or ‘Sweet Dew.’ Drinking the liquid after it is mixed with powdered jade restores youth to the aged.”
Cao Rui, extremely pleased to hear this, ordered Ma Jun to leave for Chang’an immediately and bring back the bronze figure to set up in the new garden.
So Ma Jun took a multitude of men to Chang’an, where they built a scaffold to ascend the Cypress Beam Terrace. In no time, 5,000 men with ropes got up on the terrace, which rose two hundred feet high, and the bronze pedestal was ten cubits in circumference. Ma Jun told his men to detach the bronze statue first. Many laborers joined hands and brought it down. To their astonishment they saw tears rolling down the eyes of the statue.
Then suddenly a whirlwind sprang up beside the terrace and all at once dust and pebbles swirled thick as a shower of rain. Then with a tempestuous roar as of an earthquake, down collapsed the pedestal, and the terrace crumbled, crushing a huge number of men to death.
However, the bronze figure and the golden bowl were conveyed to Luoyang and presented to the Emperor.
“Where is the pedestal?” asked the Emperor.
“It weighs a million catties and is too heavy to transport,” replied Ma Jun.
Therefore the Emperor ordered it to be broken up and the metal brought to Luoyang. From this were cast two bronze figures, called Weng Zhong (named after a giant of a warrior in the Qin dynasty), which were placed outside the Sima Gate. A pair of dragons and phoenixes were also cast, the dragons forty feet (twelve meters) high and the birds thirty feet (nine meters). These were placed in front of the Hall of Audience. Moreover, the Emperor ordered his men to plant in the royal gardens wonderful flowers and rare trees and breed exotic birds and animals.
Yang Fu, another official, remonstrated with the Emperor on these extravagances.
“I have heard that the ancient king, Yao, lived in a humble thatched cottage, and a myriad nations enjoyed harmony; later King Yu contented himself with a simple abode, and all the empire rejoiced. In the days of Yin and Zhou dynasties, the hall of the ruler stood three feet above the ground and its area was nine mats. The sage emperors and wise kings of old had never despoiled the wealth and strength of the people to build beautiful palaces for themselves.
“Jie, last ruler of Xia Dynasty, built himself a jade chamber and elephant stables while Zhou, last king of Yin Dynasty, erected the Inclining Palace and the Deer Terrace. Both of these lost their empires. Later, Duke Ling of the Kingdom of Chu came to an evil end after building Zhang Hua Palace. The first Emperor of Qin constructed Epang Palace and calamity fell upon his son, for the empire rebelled and his house was exterminated in the second reign.
“Alas! All those who have failed to consider the means of the people and given way to sensuous pleasures have perished. Your Majesty should take as your examples Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu on the one hand and regard Jie, Zhou, Chu, and Qin as lessons on the other. To seek only self-indulgence and think of nothing but decorating fine palaces will surely end in calamity.
“The Emperor is the head and his ministers are his limbs. Bound by the same fate, they live or die together. I am timorous, but dare I forget my duty? If I do not speak firmly, I should be unable to move Your Majesty. Now I have prepared my coffin and bathed my body, ready for the death penalty.”
But the Emperor was unmoved by this petition and only urged Ma Jun to carry on with the construction of the lofty terrace upon which to set up the bronze statue with the dew-collecting bowl. Moreover, he issued a command to select beautiful girls from across the country to inhabit his imperial gardens. Many officials remonstrated with him against this, but the Emperor ignored them all.
Now the consort of Cao Rui was of the Mao family. In earlier days, when he was a prince, he had loved her dearly, and when he succeeded to the throne she became Empress. Later he favored Lady Guo, and his consort was neglected. Lady Guo was beautiful and intelligent, and the Emperor was very fond of her. He neglected state affairs day after day for the pleasure of her company, and for a whole month he did not even leave the living quarters of the palace.
It was then spring time, the third month of the year, and the flowers in the Garden of Fragrant Forest were in full bloom. The Emperor and his favorite lady went to the garden to enjoy the flowers and to drink wine.
“Why not invite the Empress?” asked Lady Guo.
“If she were present I couldn’t swallow a single drop of wine,” replied the Emperor.
He gave orders that his consort should be kept in ignorance of this merriment. But as a month had passed without the appearance of the Emperor, his consort and her ladies-in-waiting went to the Blue Flower Pavilion for some diversion. There, the joyous sound of musical instruments drifted into her ear, and she asked, “Where are they playing the music?”
To her question she was told that the Emperor and Lady Guo were drinking and enjoying the flowers on the imperial grounds. The Empress was quite annoyed to hear this and she went back to her chamber to try to get some peace. The next day, when she went out in her carriage, she came across the Emperor in the winding driveway.
“Your Majesty must have enjoyed himself immensely at the northern garden yesterday,” she said with a smile.
But the Emperor was enraged. He immediately sent for all the attendants at the garden the day before and put them all to death for failing to observe his order. Shocked by this cruelty, the Empress turned her carriage to go back to her own chamber. But no sooner had she returned than there came an edict, condemning the Empress to death. Lady Guo was duly created empress in her place. And no officials in court dared to utter any disagreement.
Sometime later, the Governor of Youzhou sent in a dispatch to report the revolt of Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong, who had announced himself king of Yan and adopted the reign title of Shao Han. Furthermore, the rebel had built himself a palace, established his own court, and was disturbing the whole north with his marauding army.
Cao Rui was alarmed. A council was convened to discuss ways to put down the rebellion.
Within, endless building wearied the men of the north;
Without, the glint of weapons was seen on the border.
How the insurgents were dealt with will be related in the next chapter.
Footnote
* Another name for Hanzhong.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIX
Defeated, Gongsun Yuan Dies at Xiangping
Pretending Illness, Sima Yi Sets a Trap for Cao Shang
The last chapter ended when the ruler of Wei was informed about the rebellion of Gongsun Yuan in Liaodong in the northeast. This Gong-sun Yuan belonged to a family long settled in that region. When Cao Cao was pursuing Yuan Shao’s youngest son, who had fled there, it was Gongsun Yuan’s father that had captured the fugitive, beheaded him, and sent his head to Cao Cao. For this service the father received the title of Marquis of Xiangping. After his death, as his two sons were then young, his brother inherited his title, and Cao Pi, in addition to confirming the marquisette, promoted him to a general of high rank. Later, Gongsun Yuan, the second son, grew up to be a young man well-versed in both the liberal and martial arts. Strong-willed and fond of fighting, he seized his uncle’s power and claimed his father’s heritage. Cao Rui gave him the title of a general and Prefect of Liaodong.
Then Sun Quan, anxious to secure his support, sent two envoys with gifts to see Gongsun Yuan and offered him the title of Prince of Yan. Fearing that Wei would resent any dallying with Wu, the prefect slew the envoys. For this proof of loyalty Cao Rui gave him an even higher military post and created him Lord of Yuelang. However, he was still dissatisfied, and his thoughts turned toward independence. He took council with his officials and proposed to style himself “King of Yan” and to adopt a reign-title of his own.
One official, Jia Fan, opposed this. “The ruler of Wei has created you a lord, which is no little honor and it is not right to revolt against him,” he argued. “Besides, Sima Yi is a brilliant military commander. You see, even Zhuge Liang could not defeat him—how much less can you?”
Gongsun Yuan was furious and wanted to condemn Jia Fan to death. At this moment another official, named Lun Zhi, offered further remonstrance.
“What Jia Fan said is right. A sage once pointed out, ‘The fall of a state is preceded by the appearances of devilish beings. Now extraordinary things have been occuring frequently in our region. A dog was seen climbing up the roof of a house and walking like a human, wearing a turban and a red coat. Moreover, some people from a village south of the city were cooking rice when they found a child steamed to death in the pot. And at the market place north of the city the ground suddenly opened, revealing a large, fleshy mass, several feet wide, complete with a human head, face, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, but without limbs. Neither swords nor arrows could penetrate into it. No one knew what to call it, and after divination, a soothsayer said, ‘A form that is incomplete and a mouth that does not speak: it emerges to foretell that a state is about to fall.’ These three omens are all inauspicious. My lord, it is imperative that you make no rash moves at present so as to avoid dire trouble.”
This second remonstrance enraged Gongsun Yuan still more, and he had both of them executed in the market place. Then he appointed Bei Yan as commander and Yang Zuo as leader of the van, commanding an army of one hundred and fifty thousand men to invade Wei.
Cao Rui was alarmed and summoned Sima Yi to court for counsel. However, Sima Yi did not seem to be greatly perturbed.
“My 40,000 infantry and cavalrymen will be enough to destroy them,” said Sima Yi.
“But with your few men and the long march, it will not be easy to overcome them.”
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: An Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 46